All eyes were on the Arena Națională on February 9, 2026, as Dinamo București and Universitatea Craiova squared off in a highly anticipated clash that lived up to its billing—at least in terms of drama and tactical intrigue. The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, capped off the 26th round of the Romanian SuperLiga and left both teams still firmly in the hunt for the championship, with Universitatea Craiova maintaining their slender lead at the top and Dinamo keeping pace in third place.
From the get-go, this encounter was billed as a pivotal moment in the title race. Both squads came into the match in fine form, with Dinamo boasting an impressive home record—seven wins, four draws, and just one loss at the Arena Națională this season—while Craiova had proven themselves road warriors, winning five and drawing four of their twelve away fixtures. The stakes? Monumental. Craiova sat atop the table with 50 points, just one ahead of Dinamo’s 49, and level with Rapid, making every single point crucial as the league barrels toward the play-off phase.
The opening exchanges, however, were far from the fireworks fans had hoped for. As the first half unfolded, both sides played with a palpable sense of caution, probing but unwilling to leave themselves exposed. "Aproape m-a luat somnul până la mingea trimisă în bară de Screciu, care m-a trezit un pic… Până atunci, Dinamo și Craiova s-au plimbat pe teren, ambele echipe jucând cu teamă. Să sperăm că a doua repriză ne va aduce și ceva fotbal...," noted analyst Floriana Iacob during halftime, capturing the collective sentiment of a restless crowd.
Indeed, the first 45 minutes saw little in the way of clear-cut chances. Craiova’s Screciu came closest, rattling the bar with a header in the 31st minute—a moment that jolted both teams into life, if only briefly. Dinamo’s defense, marshaled by Epassy between the posts, held firm, while Craiova’s own backline, led by Romanchuk and Rus, kept the hosts at bay. As the whistle blew for halftime, the scoreboard remained unchanged at 0-0, with neither side registering a shot on target.
“O primă repriză săracă, așa cum era de așteptat. Ambele echipe știu că în play-off se face diferența și sunt mai concentrate și interesate să nu piardă decât să câștige,” observed Radu Secoșan, underscoring the strategic chess match unfolding on the pitch.
The second half, however, was a different story altogether—full of intensity, near-misses, and a pair of well-taken goals. Just minutes after the break, Universitatea Craiova suffered a blow as Steven Nsimba limped off with an injury, making way for Assad Al Hamlawi. The substitution would prove pivotal.
Dinamo seized the momentum in the 51st minute. Opruț, surging down the left, whipped in a pinpoint cross that found Soro lurking near the penalty spot. Rising above his marker, Soro powered a header past Popescu, sending the home supporters into raptures and giving Dinamo a precious lead. The goal was a testament to Dinamo’s ability to strike quickly when the opportunity presented itself—a trait that has served them well throughout the campaign.
But Craiova, leaders for a reason, responded with composure and class. In the 65th minute, after a spell of controlled possession, Mora crafted a superb move down the right, linking up with Cicâldău, whose cross found substitute Al Hamlawi. Leaping high, Al Hamlawi met the ball with a striker’s instinct, directing his header beyond Epassy to level the score. The away bench erupted, and the Oltenian faithful breathed a sigh of relief.
The closing stages were anything but dull. Armstrong, Dinamo’s ever-dangerous forward, nearly restored the hosts’ advantage in the 70th minute, but Popescu produced a stunning save to deny him in a one-on-one situation. Just ten minutes later, Matei threatened at the other end, forcing a sharp stop from Epassy as Craiova pushed for a winner. Yet, neither side could find the decisive breakthrough, and after four minutes of added time, referee Istvan Kovacs signaled the end of a tense, hard-fought contest.
After the final whistle, the mood in both camps was one of cautious satisfaction. "Repriza secundă a fost mai vie decât prima, cu Dinamo încercând să spargă echilibrul și Craiova menținând presiunea pe posesie și controlul ritmului jocului, dar ambele au arătat aceeași precauție tactică, căutând șansa care să destrame echilibrul și să decidă derby‑ul. Clar, ambele echipe s-au mulțumit cu un egal, un rezultat care place tuturor celor care speră la play-off," concluded Floriana Iacob, highlighting the pragmatic approach that dominated proceedings.
Radu Secoșan was quick to add, "Dinamo a condus, dar valoarea lotului i-a salvat un punct Craiovei. Remiza de azi e o victorie pentru FCSB. După două victorii controversate, campioana e la 10 puncte de primul loc. Se conturează o luptă în 5 la titlu." His analysis points to the broader implications of the result—not just for Dinamo and Craiova, but for the chasing pack, including FCSB, who now see their own title aspirations buoyed by the stalemate.
Looking at the bigger picture, the draw continues a pattern in the head-to-head history between these two powerhouses. Since 2014, they’ve met 25 times in league play, with Craiova holding the upper hand—13 wins to Dinamo’s 4, and 8 matches ending level. The last time a match between them ended goalless was way back in March 2017, underscoring just how closely matched these sides have been in recent years. Their most recent encounter prior to this one, in September 2025, also finished in a draw, 2-2, with late drama a recurring theme.
The tactical battle extended to the touchline, with Dinamo’s Zeljko Kopic and Craiova’s Filipe Coelho both praised for their game management. Kopic’s decision to trust in Soro’s aerial prowess paid off, while Coelho’s substitution of Al Hamlawi proved inspired. The match also featured strong officiating from Istvan Kovacs, whose presence in high-stakes matches continues to be a talking point among fans and pundits alike.
As the dust settles, Dinamo remain in third place with 49 points, their unbeaten home run intact, while Universitatea Craiova cling to the summit with 50 points. With the play-offs looming and the title race as tight as ever, every match, every point, and every tactical decision will be magnified in the weeks ahead. For now, both teams walk away with a share of the spoils—and plenty to ponder as the SuperLiga drama rolls on.